Microsoft can post whatever it wants on its blogs and official pages, but the real “end of life” for its operating systems comes when the most important programs stop working. Many developers did not hesitate to abandon Windows 7 and 8.x, but Mozilla has maintained an “outpost” in the form of Firefox ESR. Recently, the company confirmed it will extend support until September 2025, while reserving the right to reevaluate its situation in the future.
A quick search reminds us that Redmond ended extended support for Windows 7 in January 2020, but the ESU program allowed certain clients to push that limit to January 2023, with isolated exceptions for special versions (Windows Embedded POSReady 7 lasted until October 2024). As for Windows 8.1, the cutoff was set in January 2023, and although it had no ESU, the Embedded Industry edition gained six extra months. Server versions operate under other rules, but the message is the same: Microsoft buried its NT 6.x systems.
Maybe not? Statcounter reports that Windows 7 still exists on 2.2 percent of all desktop computers with Windows, making it the “legacy option” for many users. Add to that projects like Simplix UpdatePack, which offers a very useful superpack of post-SP1 hotfixes, and alternative browsers such as R3dfox and Supermium, compatible with 7 and 8.x. Now, if someone wants a more “official” solution, so to speak... Firefox has not gone anywhere.
Firefox ESR will continue to support Windows 7 until September
Thanks to a brief post on What Train Is It Now (which provides detailed information about all Firefox releases), Mozilla confirmed that Firefox ESR build 115 will extend its support for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and macOS 10.12 / 10.14 until September 2025. The latest ESR version is 128.7.0 dated February 4, and it will jump to build 140 in June, however, ESR 115 will continue receiving updates of security until its scheduled “end of life”.
Why do I say “scheduled”? Because Mozilla has never ruled out extending support further. In fact, this already happened in September 2024, when it set March 2025 as the deadline. Mozilla will reevaluate this decision in August, and if it deems it necessary, Firefox ESR 115 could receive another six months of grace.
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